Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s white-knuckled grip on the House leadership just shows he is vying for presidency in 2022, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said Wednesday.
“Cayatano’s obstinately holding on to the speakership, even as this violates the term-sharing deal, is linked to his ambition to run for president in 2022, which he does not deny,” Lagman said in a statement.
He noted that the 2021 budget is an “election budget” which is why “the squabble to inequitably partake of the budget pie is central to the speakership issue, particularly for Cayetano and his principal allies.”
The Albay congressman issued the statement as the speakership row heats up, especially after the House of Representatives suspended session until Nov. 16, disabling Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco to take over on Oct. 14 as agreed upon in a deal brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“I will not keep my peace and remain a silent bystander, although I am not a partisan, as an independent oppositionist, for or against either of the contenders,” Lagman said.
He added it is “incumbent” upon the supermajority of the House to honor the term-sharing deal as “what President Duterte brokered must not be broken.”
Cayetano must not only offer to resign but he must “irrevocably” resign as Speaker to honor the term-sharing agreement.
Cayetano earlier offered to resign from his post but was rejected by 184 members of the House.
Lagman dubbed this rejection as a “moro-moro” or an “inordinate sham.”